Kansas women’s basketball remains undefeated with 72-52 victory over Wichita State
Kansas Jayhawks women’s basketball coach Brandon Schneider won’t beg for the attention of KU’s student body.
But he believes his team deserves the support, and Sunday provided his latest proof
In front of a season-high 2,556 fans at Allen Fieldhouse, the Jayhawks rolled to an impressive 72-52 win over the Wichita State Shockers.
Kansas guard Zakiyah Franklin scored 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting, Holly Kersgieter added 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting and center Taiyanna Jackson finished with seven points and 13 rebounds.
The win by the Jayhawks (9-0) ended the Shockers’ winning streak at seven games. Wichita State, led Sunday by Curtessia Dean’s 12 points, fell to 8-2.
It’s been an eventful week for KU. On Thursday, Schneider’s unranked Jayhawks recorded a dominant 77-50 road victory over previously undefeated and No. 12-ranked Arizona.
“The last week has been great for us, but I would say we are humble,” Jackson said. “It’s not changing the way we play, not changing the way we practice … we still demand respect.”
Kansas improved to 33-7 all-time against Wichita State, including a 20-0 record in Lawrence. The win is KU’s seventh straight by 20 points or more.
“We are not overlooking any opponents because anybody can come in here and beat us,” Jackson said. “So we just celebrate in the locker room and we move on. We go to practice and we worry about the next game.”
Last season, Kansas was picked to finish last by the Big 12’s coaches in the conference’s preseason poll. Instead, KU finished 21-10 (11-7 Big 12). The Jayhawks would eventually lose 95-61 to Final Four finalist Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Playing against Stanford really taught us a lot as a team, and individually, too,” Jackson said. “Just coming back … greedy and hungry. We don’t have a lot of new people, but we have people who have stepped up to fulfill roles. … We know what it takes to be a winning program and to be underrated also, in the most humble way.”
The Jayhawks were picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll this season.
“We talk a lot about, what we think of our team,” Schneider said. “I thought last year was a perfect example of we believed in our team a lot more than other people did when they picked us (to finish) 10th.
“I wouldn’t say that was any different than being picked fifth. I’m sure our players felt like that they were maybe a little better than that. ... Those are all good things to use as motivation, whether you are a team or an individual.”
On Sunday against Wichita State, Kansas led by 26 points (72-46) with 1:39 left in the game.
The first quarter left something to be desired, with six turnovers for each team. After a 5-0 run in the final 1:20 of the first quarter, the Jayhawks led 13-7. KU played with great intensity on defense, limiting Wichita State to 3-for-13 shooting (23.3%).
The Jayhawks dialed up their smothering defense in the second quarter, embarking on a 9-3 run, and led 31-23 at halftime.
Kansas guards Kersgieter and Franklin combined for 20 points in the first half. Kersgieter hit 4 of 8 shots, while Franklin shot 3 for 6.
The Jayhawks took control of the game in the third quarter. After shooting 2-for-9 (22.2%) from three-point range in the first half, KU was 3 for 5 in the second half. KU pushed its lead to 19 by the end of the quarter, holding Wichita State to 25% shooting.
In the fourth, KU didn’t let the margin get closer than 17 points.
KU will next meet Tulsa at 7 p.m. Friday at Allen Fieldhouse. Wichita State plays host to the Southern Jaguars at 6 p.m. Saturday at Koch Arena.
